Evaporating apparatus.



G. W. GHILDS. EVAPORATING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED 1330.30, 1903. RENEWED AUG. 19, 1911.

1,005,600. H Patented 001;. 10,1911.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1.

G. W. GHILDS.

EVAPORATING APPARATUS. APPLIDATION FILED DEC. 30, 1903. RENEWED AUG. 19, 1911.

1,005,600. v Patented Oct. 10, 1911.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR: I ism/ Zd/WZZ 650m: IVfiSZfYC/l/ZDJ,

UNITED STATES PATENT oFmoEQ GEORGE WESLEY CHILDS, 0F RIDG'W'AY, PENNSYLVANIA.

nvaroaa'rme APPARATUS. 1

Speciflcation of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 30, 1903, Serial No. 187,093. Renewed August 19, 1911. Serial No. 645,011.

To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, GEORGE WESLEY CInLDs, of Ridgway, in the county of Elk and State of Pennsylvania", have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Evaporating Apparatus, whereof the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My improvements relate to apparatus of the class comprising a series of vessels wherein a partial vacuum is maintained and through which the liquid is progressed while vaporizing.

In apparatus of the 'class contemplated as heretofore constructed, the vessels arepermanently connected with each other in an unchangeable sequence, so that a certain vessel of the series is constituted the initial one, to which the weak liquid is always introduced, and another vessel is constituted the terminal one,.in which the liquid is always evaporated to greatest specific gravity and from which the liquid concentrate is finally discharged. Such an arrangement may be successfully employed for the'concentration of some syrups, but I find that during the process offconcentrating other solutions, such as extracts of bark, and similar vegetable matters, in such an apparatus, the tubes in contact with the liquid in the vessels succeeding the first one in the series become incrust'ed with deposits from the liquid, as the latter increases in specific gravity, and, as such deposits rapidly increase during the conduct of the process, the efliciency of the apparatus as a whole isnot only materially reduced, by the presence of such deposits, but the liquid concentrate is deprived of the matter deposited. I have ascertained that the losses incident to the deposit of a portion of the matter from the solution, as above noted, may be obviated by utilizing each pan, in rotation, as the initial pan-of the series, and consequently, utilizing in rotation, each pan as the terminal pan of the series; with the effect that the deposits made from the li uid of greater specific gravity are redissolve by the liquid of less specific gravity and all of the solid matter is discharged in solution in the'concentrate. Therefore, my improved apparatus is of three-fold advantage, first, in thatthe maximum volume of production may be continuously maintained; second, that all of the concentrate may be d1scharged in liquid form, and, third, that the cost of maintenance of the apparatus is materially reduced, for, the deposits aforesaid can only be eliminated from the ordinary apparatus by renewing the tubes or other parts upon which they lodge.

The herein described process of concentrating liquids forms the subject matter of Letters Patent of the United States #936,760 granted to me October 12th, 1909.

In the accompanyingdrawings, I have orating pans, so constructed and arranged with respect to a weak liquid inlet conduit and a concentrated liquid, discharge conduit, that anyaselected one of said pans may be constituted the initial pan of the series in connection with the weak liquid conduit, and any selected one of said pans may be constituted the terminal pan of the series in charge conduit. I also find it convenient to provide said apparatus with a vapor condenser and vapor pipes in such relation thereto that the vapors may beconducted to said condenser from which every one of the pans is, for the time being, the terminal pan. Said apparatus comprises other con venient adjunctive devices, but it is to be understood that I do not desire to limit myself to a series comprising any particular number, or to the employment of the particular adj unctive devices described.

My invention comprehends the various novel features of construction and arrange- In the drawings, Figure I, is a plan view of a quadruple efiect,.conveniently embodyside elevation thereof.

In said figures,--1, 2, 3, and 4, are the evaporating pans of the series conveniently grouped around the vapor condenser 6. Said pans are connected with each other by counterpart vapor pipes to the lower heating drum 10, of the next adjoining pan. Sai pipes 7, have counterpart branches 12, extending to the condenser 6. Communication between the adjoining pans by way of the pipes 7 is respectively controlledby valves 14:, 15, 16, and 17 the valve 14, controlling communication from the pan '1, to pan 2. Communication beof the branch pipes 12, is respectively controlled by the valves 19,20, 21, 22, the valve Patented Oct. 10, 1911.

ng my improvements, and, Fig. vII, is a shown a multiple efi'ect comprising four evapment hereinafter more definitely set forth. I

7, which extend i from the upper vapor chamber 8, of one pan Y tween said pans and the condenser by way I 75. connection with the concentrated liquid dis 7 tively connected by branches 32, 33, 34, and

35, with the concentrated liquid discharge conduit 37, which latter is provided with the outlet 38, leading to the pump 39. The introduction of the weak liquid from the conduit 25, to any one'of the pipes 27', 28, 29, and 30, selectively, in accordance with which pan is for the, time being the initial one, is determined by the valves 41, 42, 43, and 44. Likewise the final discharge of concentrated liquid through either of the pipes 32, to 35, selectively, in accordance with which pan is for the time being the terminal one is determined by the valves 46, 47, 48 and 49, respectively. Moreover,-the pipes 32, 33, 34,:and 35, through which the liquid is discharged from the individual pans, are respectively provided with flanges 51, 52, 53, and 54, respectively extendingto the inlet pipes 28,29, 30, and 27, of the individual pans, and respectively controlled by valves 56, .57, 58, and 59, to determine whether the liquid shall be discharged to the next adjoining pan, or to the concentrated liquid conduit 37. The weak liquid inlet pipes 27, 28, 29, and 30,

of the respective pans 1, to 4, inclusive, are" conveniently provided with regulators 61, 62, 63, and 64, respectively, by which the liquid in the respective pansma be automatically maintained at a pre etermined level.

' The heating drums 10, of the pans 1, to 4, inclusive are respectively provided with condensation drain pipes 66, 67, 68, and 69, and, each of said condensation pipes is provided with four pipe connections respectively marked 71, 72, 73, and 74, and respectively controlled by valves 81, 82, 83, and 84. Said pipes 66, 67, 68, and 69, are difierently connected, with the pipe 86,1eading to the boilers; the pipe 87, leading to the left hand end of the water pump 88; the pipe 89, leading to the'right hand end of said pump 88, and, the drip pipe 90, leading to the hot. well 91, shown in- Fig. II. It may be here noted that the different con nectionsof the similarly arranged sets of valves 81, to 84, inclusive, which sets are respectively local to the condensation pipes 66,67, 68, and 69, are found convenient wlth reference to the order in which they are opened, as hereinafter'described, in accordance with. which one of the pans 1 to 4,

is for the time being the initial pan.

.. It is to be understood that the vapors arising from the liquid being concentrated in what are for the time being the'first,

charged as water through the pipes 67, 68,

and 69. In order that the drum 10, of whichever pan is the initial one may be heated, each of the vapor pipes 7 is provided with a steam inlet pipe 93. Said pipes 93, are respectively controlled by the valves 94, 95, 96, and 97; the valve 94, controlling the inlet of steam to the pipe 7,.connecting the pan 1, with the pan 2. Said pipes 93,

are conveniently brought together in com-- mon connection with a high pressure steam inlet 98, and low pressure exhaust steam inlet 99, controlled by suitable valves. The

vapors'from what is for the time being the fourth pan of theseries are delivered through its respective branch pipe 12, to

the condenser 6, which is provided with a drip outlet 100, extending to the hot well 91. Said condenser is also provided with the pipe. 102, leading to a vacuum pump, so

that the vaporization of the liquid in the last pan of the series may be facilitated.

. When the pan 1, is to be used as the initial pan of the series and the pan 4, as the terminal pan, the valves are set as follows :The valve 41 controlling communication between the wea liquid supply conduit 25, and-the inletpipe 27 leading through the regulator 61, to the pan 1, is o ened; all of the other valves from said con uit 25, are closed; and, the valves 56, 57, and-58, controlling the connections between the adjoining pans are opened; so that the liquid flows successively from the pan 1, through pans 2, and'3, to

an 4, of course, increasing in specific grav- 1ty in its traverse. The concentrated llquid is discharged from pan 4, through the pipe 35, and, the valve 59, being closed and the valve '49, being opened, said concentrate is delivered to the conduit 37. The respective steam inletvalves 94, 95, and 96, leading to the pans 2, 3, and 4, are closed and the steam inlet valve 97, leading to the pan 1, opened. The vapor valves 14, 15, 16, are opened and the vapor valve 17, shut;- the valves 19, 20, 21 are shut and the valve 22, opened. So that the liquid in the pan 1, is vaporized by the steam surrounding the tubes 11, conpipe 100, to the hot well. All of the valves 81, are opened and the valves-82, 83and 84,

' are shut, with the. effect that the condensation pipes 66, 67, 68, and 69, of the respective pans 1, 2, 3, and 4, are respectively connected with the boiler, the hot Well the right hand side of the pump 58, and the left hand side of said pump.

' closed, and the valves 59, 56, and 57, controlling the connections between the adjoining pans are opened; so that the liquid flows successively from the pan 4, through the pans 1, and 2, to the pan 3. The concentrated liquid is discharged from the pan 3, through the pipe 34', and, the valve 58, being closed and the valve 48, being open said concentrate is delivered to the conduit 37. The respective steam inlets 97 94, and 95, leading to the pans 1, 2, and 3, are closed, and the steam inlet, 96, leading to the pan 4, opened. The vapor valves 17 14, 15, are opened and the vapor valve 16, shut; the valves 22, 19, and 20, are shut and the valve 21, opened. So that the liquid in the pan 4, is vaporized, by thesteam surrounding the tubes 11, containing it, and, the vapors from pan 4, are delivered within the drum 10, of the pan 1, and so on through the series; the vapors from the pan 3, being delivered through the branch pipe 12, to the condenser 6.

In the last named operation, with the an 4 as the initial member of the series,"all of the valves84, are opened and the valves 81, 82, and 83, shut, to eifect the proper connections of the respective condensation pipes 66, 67, 68, and 69. Similarly, when the pan 2, is the initial pan, all of the valves 82, are opened and the valves 81, 83, and 84, are shut; and, when the pan 3, is-the initial pan, all of the valves 83, are opened and the valves 81, 82, and 84 shut.

It is ,to beunderstood that each of the pans of the series is thus in rotation constituted the initial member thereof, and the regions of introduction of the weak liquid and of discharge of the concentrate thus progressively shifted from one vessel to another in the series, at such intervals as to insure the solution and discharge of all of the involatile contents of the weak liquid in the concentrated liquid product. I

Although I have described. a -form of evaporating pan wherein the'liquid, to be concentrated is disposed within tubes which are surrounded by the heating medium, to wit, the vapors from the preceding pans. or steam 'from an external source, it is to be understood that I (10 not desireto limit myself to that particular arrangement, as it is obvious that various modifications may be made without departing from the essential features of my invention.

I claim 1. In an-evaporating apparatus, the combinationwith a condenser; of a plurality of pans grouped around the'condenser; valved connections arranged to connect the vapor chamber of each pan with the heating drum of the next succeeding pan; valved connections arranged to connect each pan with the condenser; a liquid level regulator for each pan, having a liquid inlet and a connection with the corresponding pan; a liquid outlet from each pan; and, a valvedby-pass connect-ing the liquid inlet in each pan with the liquid outlet of the next pan.

2. A double efiect evaporator in combination-with a condenser, each efiect comprising an evaporating chamber, a heating chamber, a va or pipe stationarily fixed, leading from t e evaporating chamber to the condenser, and to the heating chamber of the adjoining efi'ect, valves in said vapor pipe for closing the connection between the evaporating chamber of the one effect and the heating chamberof the other efiect.

3. A multiple efi'ect evaporator incombination with acondenser, each eflect comprising an evaporating chamber, a heating chamber, a pipe leading from the evaporating chamber to the condenser and to the heating chamber of the adjoining effect, and, means for alternately closing the connection between the evaporating chamber of one. effect and the heating chamber of the adjoining effect, and between said evap orating chamber and said condenser.

4. A multiple efi'ect evaporator,,comprising a series of effects disposed in a symmetrical group, in combination with a condenser, in concentric relation Wit-ll said group, each effect comprising an evaporating chamber, a heating chamber, a vapor pipe leading from. the evaporating chamber to the condenser and to the heatlng chamber of the adjoining effect, and, means for closing the connection between the evaporating chamber of one effect and the heating chamber of the adjoining effect.

5. A multiple eflect evaporator in combination with a condenser, each effectcomprising an evaporating chamber, a heating chamber, a vapor pipe leading vtrom the evaporating chamber to the condenser and to the heating chamber of the adjoining effect, means for alternately closing the connection between the evaporating chamber of one effect and-the heating chamber of the adjoining eflect; and, connections arranged to transmit the concentrate from one evaporating chamber to another throughout the series.

6. A multiple effect evaporator in combination with a condenser, each effect comprising an evaporating chamber, a heating chamber, a vapor pipe leading from the evaporating chamber to the condenser and to the heating chamber of the adjoining efiect, means for alternately closing the connection between the evaporating chamber of one effect and the heating chamber of the adjoining eflect; and, connections arranged [SEAL the evaporating chamber to the condenser and to the heating chamber of the ad'o'i ning pan, means for alternately closing t e connection between .the evaporating chamber of one effect and the heating chamber of the other eflect and between saidevaporating chamber and the condenser, a liquid supply pipe common toall of said pans, a liquid discharge pipe common to all of said pans, and valves controlling the connections between said pipes and pans; whereby each pan in the series may be connected in succession as the initial pan to which theraw liquid is introduced.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name, at Philadelphia, Pennsyl- Vania, this ninth day of December, 1903.

GEORGE WESLEY CHILDS. Witnesses:

.GEo. P. MCARTHUR,

ARTHUR E. PAIGE.

I It is-hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,005, 00, granted October 10,

1911, upon the application of George Wesley Childs, of Ridgway, Pennsylvania, for it an improvement in Evaporating Apparatus, errors appear in the printed specification requiring correction as follows: Page 2, line 26, for the word flanges read branches, and line 122 for the words an dvaporize read and evaporize; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Ofiice. I

Signed and sealed this 7th day of November, A. 1)., 911.

- E. B. MOORE,

Commissioner of Patents. I

6. A multiple effect evaporator in combination with a condenser, each effect comprising an evaporating chamber, a heating chamber, a vapor pipe leading from the evaporating chamber to the condenser and to the heating chamber of the adjoining efiect, means for alternately closing the connection between the evaporating chamber of one effect and the heating chamber of the adjoining eflect; and, connections arranged [SEAL the evaporating chamber to the condenser and to the heating chamber of the ad'o'i ning pan, means for alternately closing t e connection between .the evaporating chamber of one effect and the heating chamber of the other eflect and between saidevaporating chamber and the condenser, a liquid supply pipe common toall of said pans, a liquid discharge pipe common to all of said pans, and valves controlling the connections between said pipes and pans; whereby each pan in the series may be connected in succession as the initial pan to which theraw liquid is introduced.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name, at Philadelphia, Pennsyl- Vania, this ninth day of December, 1903.

GEORGE WESLEY CHILDS. Witnesses:

.GEo. P. MCARTHUR,

ARTHUR E. PAIGE.

I It is-hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,005, 00, granted October 10,

1911, upon the application of George Wesley Childs, of Ridgway, Pennsylvania, for it an improvement in Evaporating Apparatus, errors appear in the printed specification requiring correction as follows: Page 2, line 26, for the word flanges read branches, and line 122 for the words an dvaporize read and evaporize; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Ofiice. I

Signed and sealed this 7th day of November, A. 1)., 911.

- E. B. MOORE,

Commissioner of Patents. I

Corrections in Letters Patent No. l,005,600.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,005,600, granted October 10, 1911, upon the application of George Wesley Childs, of Ridgway, Pennsylvania, for

errors appear in the printed specififlanges read an improvement in Evaporating Apparatus cation requiring correction he follows: Page 2, line 26, for the word branches, and line 122, for the words an dvaporize read and evapom'ze, and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Ofiice.

Signed and sealed this 7th day of November, A. D., 1911. I

E. B. MOORE,

Commissioner of Patents.

[SEAL] 

